Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to revise A Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture to reflect any changes in direction in the Common Agricultural Policy from farm production to environmental protection and the EU Waste Framework and Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control directives.

Ross Finnie: A Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture anticipates changes in the Common Agricultural Policy, including increased emphasis on environmental protection, and so its key messages remain valid. A cross-sectoral group, similar in composition to the group that drew up the strategy, has been created which, amongst other tasks, will help ensure that the strategy remains relevant by advising me on any revisions required in the light of experience.

Air Services

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive under what timetable existing public service obligations on air routes will be renewed and what role (a) it and (b) the Department for Transport will have in respect of this matter.

Lewis Macdonald: The current contractual arrangements with regard to the Scottish Executive's supported lifeline routes expire on 30 March 2003 and will require to be renewed from 1 April 2003 to ensure continuity of service. The Executive has responsibility for determining which air services within Scotland should be supported through EC Regulation 2408/92, in the context of the UK Government's overall responsibility for ensuring UK compliance with the terms of the regulation.

Airports

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made, or will make, to BAA Scottish Airports to ensure the economic competitiveness of (a) Glasgow, (b) Edinburgh and (c) Aberdeen Airports.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has made no representations to BAA Scottish Airports with regard to the economic competitiveness of its airports. The continuing growth at Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen Airports directly supports the economic competitiveness of Scotland and local economies.

Airports

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has investigated what the cost would be of buying out the Private Finance Initiative in respect of the terminal at Inverness Airport; if so, what its estimate of this cost is; if it has not investigated the cost, whether it will do so, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has not investigated the cost of buying out the Inverness Airport Terminal Private Finance Initiative (PFI). The PFI approach enabled the full redevelopment of the terminal to be completed earlier than would have been possible through public sector procurement. It is operating effectively and efficiently and the Executive sees no requirement to review the situation.

Airports

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what experience of running airports each member of the management of Highlands and Islands Airport Ltd (HIAL) had prior to appointment at HIAL and, in particular, how many management posts each held, for how long each such post was held and what specific experience each gained in the commercial airport sector, including the airports at which each worked.

Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is contained in the personnel records of the individuals concerned and which are retained by HIAL. Under Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information , information contained in personnel records (relating to public appointments as well as employees of public authorities) are exempt from disclosure.

Climate Change

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will set Scottish targets on climate change.

Allan Wilson: Measures in place through the Scottish Climate Change Programme are helping to deliver greenhouse gas emission savings in line with our commitment to make an equitable contribution to the UK Kyoto target. Scottish climate change targets are not considered necessary at this time but we will keep this position under review.

Community Care

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding mechanism is in place to ensure that carers’ services, including respite services, developed and funded through the carers’ strategy allocation in 2000, will be able to continue beyond April 2003.

Mr Frank McAveety: Decisions on the future allocation of resources for all Executive priorities, including health and social care services, are currently the subject of a comprehensive spending review. No decisions have been made as yet but the Scottish Executive has made clear that it remains fully committed to supporting Scotland’s carers.

Community Care

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms have been put in place since the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 came into force to ensure that information on services and support is made available to carers.

Mr Frank McAveety: The measures in the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 to support carers come into force in September. The Executive will issue detailed guidance to the statutory and voluntary sectors on the implementation of the act, which will address issues such as the provision of information to carers.

Community Care

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many carers have received an independent assessment of their needs since the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 came into force.

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what process is in place to record unmet needs identified during carers’ assessments since the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 came into force.

Mr Frank McAveety: The measures in the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 to support carers come into force in September. The Executive will issue detailed guidance to the statutory and voluntary sectors on the implementation of the act, which will cover independent assessments for carers.

Community Care

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will amend the terms of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 so that children accessing residential respite care for longer than 24 hours do not have to be categorised as looked after children.

Cathy Jamieson: Where a child stays away from home for purposes of respite, he or she is being provided with accommodation and the local authority has additional duties towards him or her as a child being looked after by them. This is designed to protect children who might otherwise be vulnerable and we have no current plans to amend the legislation.

Eating Disorders

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what in-patient facilities there were for the care and treatment of people suffering from (a) anorexia nervosa and (b) bulimia in 1997 and are in the current year broken down by NHS board area.

Malcolm Chisholm: NHS boards provide in-patient care and treatment for patients suffering from anorexia nervosa or bulimia through their mainstream acute or mental health services depending on the nature of the care and treatment required. No NHS board in Scotland provides dedicated in-patient facilities for the treatment of people suffering from these conditions. The position has not changed since 1997.

Energy Efficiency

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets have been set to improve energy efficiency in the public sector.

Hugh Henry: Under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995, local authorities are working towards making substantial improvements in home energy efficiency over 10 to 15 years beginning in 1997. In their original strategy reports, setting out how they would improve home energy efficiency, most local authorities identified scope for improvements of between 20% and 30%.

Ferry Services

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to Caledonian MacBrayne’s position that a reduced ferry service between Gourock and Dunoon provides best value for the people of that area and what definition of "best value" was used.

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it has had with (a) MSPs representing the parliamentary constituency of Argyll and Bute and the Highlands and Islands parliamentary region, (b) interested community bodies in Dunoon and (c) the wider Dunoon community in regard to proposed restructuring of the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry service between Gourock and Dunoon.

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the figures relied upon by Caledonian MacBrayne to reach the conclusion that the proposed service configuration on the Dunoon to Gourock ferry route is the most cost-effective option.

Lewis Macdonald: Only the passenger element of Caledonian MacBrayne's service on this route is within the undertaking between the company and the Scottish ministers. The provision of a vehicle ferry service is outwith the undertaking, and therefore the company’s decision to introduce passenger-only sailings in a commercial matter for the company.

Ferry Services

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking, directly or indirectly, in order to promote and support the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry link.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has recently announced the award of £767,666 in European Regional Development Fund funding towards marketing initiatives by local tourist boards targeting the Northern European market and Scottish Enterprise has provided financial support towards marketing the route. VisitScotland is also working with Superfast Ferries to help promote the route

Health

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive when the audit of chronic pain services will be published.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The Executive will be looking at the provision of chronic pain services through NHS boards' health plans, but there are no plans to publish a formal audit.

Health

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to undertake a needs analysis of chronic pain services.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The Executive has no plans to commission a formal needs assessment of chronic pain services. Any specific problem areas drawn to the Executive's attention will of course be followed up with the NHS board concerned.

Health Technology Board for Scotland

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what appeal procedures are in place in regard to the Health Technology Board for Scotland delivering its Comment to the National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidance on Health Technology Assessments.

Malcolm Chisholm: There are currently no plans to bring in an appeals procedure in relation to Comments delivered by the Health Technology Board for Scotland (HTBS) on National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidance on Health Technology Assessments. However, the HTBS will review a Comment in the light of new evidence on its interpretation of the contextual differences it has identified between Scotland and England and Wales.

Health Technology Board for Scotland

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures the Health Technology Board for Scotland has put in place in regard to its own Health Technology Assessments.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Health Technology Board for Scotland’s process for Health Technology Assessment is published on the HTBS website, www.htbs.co.uk, and is placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Health Technology Board for Scotland

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Comment delivered by the Health Technology Board for Scotland (HTBS) on National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidance is valid given that the HTBS is not a consultee in the appraisal process and does not have access to the evidence upon which the guidance is based.

Malcolm Chisholm: HTBS Comments provide advice to NHSScotland on the applicability of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) Technology Appraisal Guidance in the light of the contextual differences between Scotland and England and Wales in terms of epidemiology, that is the frequency, distribution and stage at presentation of a disease, the structure and provision of services in Scotland and any other appropriate issue such as rurality issues and predicted uptake.

  To fulfil this role, HTBS seeks evidence from Scottish experts about these contextual differences and the information in the NICE Assessment Report, and consults with NICE for clarification as necessary.

  The role of HTBS is neither to reassess the evidence used by NICE in forming its advice nor to approve the NICE Guidance.

Hospitals

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hospital beds were available for dermatological conditions in each NHS board in each of the last five years.

Malcolm Chisholm: Information on the number of average available staffed dermatology beds for the years ending 31 March 1998 to 2002 for each of the health board areas is shown in the following table.

  





1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  

2001 
  

2002P




Scotland 
  

174 
  

161 
  

153 
  

127 
  

123 
  



Argyll and Clyde 
  

16 
  

15 
  

12 
  

12 
  

12 
  



Ayrshire and Arran 
  

15 
  

15 
  

15 
  

15 
  

15 
  



Borders 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

2 
  

1 
  

1 
  

1 
  

1 
  



Fife 
  

9 
  

7 
  

6 
  

6 
  

5 
  



Forth Valley 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Grampian 
  

21 
  

19 
  

16 
  

14 
  

13 
  



Greater Glasgow 
  

37 
  

36 
  

36 
  

34 
  

31 
  



Highland 
  

8 
  

8 
  

9 
  

8 
  

8 
  



Lanarkshire 
  

30 
  

26 
  

26 
  

15 
  

15 
  



Lothian 
  

16 
  

15 
  

13 
  

7 
  

8 
  



Orkney 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Shetland 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Tayside 
  

20 
  

18 
  

18 
  

14 
  

13 
  



Western Isles 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



  Source: ISD Scotland.

  PProvisional.

  Note: The figures indicate the average daily number of beds which were staffed and were available for the reception of in-patients and day cases. Borrowed and temporary beds are included; beds in day bed units are excluded. They include beds for use by NHS patients that are located in non-NHS locations (e.g. joint-user and contractual hospitals).

Housing

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give the same guarantees in respect of its future funding of housing following stock transfer in Dumfries and Galloway as it gave in respect of the transfer of housing stock in Glasgow.

Ms Margaret Curran: The issue of resources for housing regeneration in Dumfries and Galloway will be considered when the council has prepared a comprehensive housing strategy in consultation with Communities Scotland and the Registered Social Landlords operating in its area.

Local Government Finance

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much Argyll and Bute Council’s grant aided expenditure (GAE) for education (a) was in each of the past five years and (b) is in the current year; whether the council spent above or below the GAE figure in each of the last five years, and what the total GAE for Argyll and Bute Council has been in each of the last six years.

Mr Andy Kerr: Details of the grant aided expenditure assessments for each local authority for the years 1997-98 to 2001-02 are set out in Grant Aided Expenditure (the "Green Book") for each year, which are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre with Bib. numbers as follows:

  


1997-98 
  

8455 
  



1998-99 
  

8140 
  



1999-2000 
  

3274 
  



2000-01 
  

7912 
  



2001-02 
  

12261 
  



  Allocations of grant aided expenditure for 2002-03 were based on those for 2001-02, adjusted to take account of projected changes to population data for that year. Details of these adjustments are contained in a supplement attached to the "Green Book" for 2001-02.

  Information on expenditure compared with GAE can be found in the CIPFA Rating Review Actuals of Income and Expenditure booklets with the following Bib. numbers:

  


1997-98 
  

7545 
  



1998-99 
  

7548 
  



1999-2000 
  

14654 
  



2000-01 
  

19781 
  



  2001-02 can be found in The CIPFA booklet "Rating Review Estimates of Income and Expenditure" (Bib. number 17055). Information for the current year is not yet available.

Mining

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any public loans and grants awarded to Mining (Scotland) Ltd; when they were awarded, and by which public authority.

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any public loans and grants awarded to (a) Mining (Scotland) Ltd, (b) Scottish Coal Company Ltd, (c) Castlebridge Plant Ltd, (d) Game Fisheries Ltd, (e) Scottish Coal Contracts Ltd and (f) Alba Regeneration and Power; when each such loan and grant was awarded, and by which public authority.

Lewis Macdonald: Details of loans and grants provided by the Scottish Executive and the Enterprise Network are as follows:

  (a) Mining (Scotland) Ltd - None

  (b) Scottish Coal Company Ltd

  


Date 
  

Granting Authority 
  

Grant or Loan 
  

Amount 
  



2000-01 
  

Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley 
  

Grant towards studies 
  

£2,500 
  



Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire 
  

Grant towards studies 
  

£6,953 
  



2001-02 
  

Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley 
  

Grant towards studies 
  

£6,300 
  



Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire 
  

Grant towards studies 
  

£3,578 
  



Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian 
  

Grant towards study on Blindwells site 
  

£25,000 
  



Scottish Executive 
  

Freight Facilities Grant 
  

£9,750,000 
  



2002-03 
  

Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian 
  

Grant towards study on Blindwells site 
  

£3,299 
  



Total 
  
 
 

£9,797,630 
  



  (c) Castlebridge Plant Ltd - None

  (d) Game Fisheries Ltd – None

  (e) Scottish Coal Contracts Ltd – None

  (f) Alba Regeneration Ltd -None

  In the financial year 2001-02 Scottish Coal (Deep Mine) Co Ltd received from Scottish Enterprise Fife payments of £37,260 in respect of the Modern Apprenticeship Scheme.

  Information on other possible sources of public sector support to these companies is not held centrally.

Ministerial Group on Sustainable Scotland

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Ministerial Group on Sustainable Scotland (MoSS) met as planned on 5 February and 26 March 2002 and, if so, when the minutes will be posted on the MoSS website.

Ross Finnie: The Ministerial Group on Sustainable Scotland (MoSS) has been replaced by the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Sustainable Scotland (CSCSS) which is chaired by the First Minister. CSCSS met on 5 February and 26 March and reports of these meetings have been posted under "publications" on the Sustainable Scotland website at:

  www.sustainable.scotland.gov.uk

NHS Staff

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many dermatologists were employed by each NHS board, expressed as a percentage of whole-time equivalent posts, in each of the last five years.

Malcolm Chisholm: Information on whole-time equivalent (WTE) of dermatologists in 1995-2000 in each NHS board is shown in the following tables. 2001 data will be available from 17 July 2002.

  It should be noted that the figures do not reflect directly the availability of dermatology services, because in many instances doctors employed in one health board area also provide service in another. It should also be noted that in 2001 the number of posts for Specialist Registrars currently training for a Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST) in dermatology was increased from 14 to 17.

  Table 1

  Dermatologists Directly Employed by NHSScotland by NHS Board1 Whole-Time Equivalent (WTE) at 30 September 1996

  





All Grades 
  

Consultants 
  

Non-Consultant Career Grades2


Training Grades3


Other4




Scotland 
  

87 
  

36.9 
  

6.1 
  

36.8 
  

7.3 
  



Argyll and Clyde 
  

7.7 
  

3 
  

2 
  

2 
  

0.8 
  



Ayrshire and Arran 
  

4.6 
  

3 
  

- 
  

1 
  

0.7 
  



Borders 
  

0.4 
  

0.4 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

1.2 
  

1 
  

- 
  

- 
  

0.2 
  



Fife 
  

2.3 
  

1.7 
  

- 
  

- 
  

0.6 
  



Forth Valley 
  

0.8 
  

0.6 
  

- 
  

- 
  

0.2 
  



Grampian 
  

5.1 
  

3 
  

- 
  

2 
  

0.1 
  



Greater Glasgow 
  

28.6 
  

10.5 
  

- 
  

14.6 
  

3.5 
  



Highland 
  

3.8 
  

2 
  

0.7 
  

1 
  

0.1 
  



Lanarkshire 
  

8 
  

2.9 
  

1 
  

3 
  

1.1 
  



Lothian 
  

14.4 
  

4.8 
  

2.4 
  

7.2 
  

0.1 
  



Orkney 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Shetland 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Tayside 
  

10 
  

4 
  

- 
  

6 
  

0.1 
  



Western Isles 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



  Table 2

  Dermatologists Directly Employed by NHSScotland by NHS Board1

  Whole-Time Equivalent (WTE) at 30 September 1997

  





All Grades 
  

Consultants 
  

Non-Consultant Career Grades 2


Training Grades3


Other4




Scotland 
  

91.7 
  

40.7 
  

6.8 
  

36.3 
  

7.8 
  



Argyll and Clyde 
  

8.3 
  

3 
  

2 
  

2 
  

1.3 
  



Ayrshire and Arran 
  

4.7 
  

3 
  

- 
  

1 
  

0.8 
  



Borders 
  

0.4 
  

0.4 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

1.2 
  

1 
  

- 
  

- 
  

0.2 
  



Fife 
  

2.8 
  

1.7 
  

0.4 
  

- 
  

0.7 
  



Forth Valley 
  

2 
  

1.6 
  

- 
  

- 
  

0.4 
  



Grampian 
  

5.6 
  

3 
  

- 
  

2.5 
  

0.1 
  



Greater Glasgow 
  

28.6 
  

10.5 
  

- 
  

15.6 
  

2.5 
  



Highland 
  

4.1 
  

2 
  

0.7 
  

1 
  

0.4 
  



Lanarkshire 
  

9.6 
  

4.9 
  

1.3 
  

2 
  

1.4 
  



Lothian 
  

12.8 
  

5.4 
  

2.5 
  

4.7 
  

0.2 
  



Orkney 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Shetland 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Tayside 
  

11.7 
  

4.1 
  

- 
  

7.5 
  

0.1 
  



Western Isles 
  




- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



  Table 3

  Dermatologists Directly Employed by NHSScotland by NHS Board1

  Whole-Time Equivalent (WTE) at 30 September 1998

  





All Grades 
  

Consultants 
  

Non-Consultant Career Grades2


Training Grades3


Other4




Scotland 
  

90.7 
  

40.8 
  

8 
  

35.6 
  

6.4 
  



Argyll and Clyde 
  

8 
  

3 
  

2 
  

2 
  

1 
  



Ayrshire and Arran 
  

4.9 
  

3 
  

- 
  

1 
  

0.9 
  



Borders 
  

0.4 
  

0.4 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

1.1 
  

1 
  

- 
  

- 
  

0.1 
  



Fife 
  

2.9 
  

1.7 
  

0.4 
  

- 
  

0.8 
  



Forth Valley 
  

1.9 
  

1.6 
  

- 
  

- 
  

0.3 
  



Grampian 
  

5.1 
  

3 
  

- 
  

2 
  

0.1 
  



Greater Glasgow 
  

28.3 
  

10.5 
  

- 
  

15.6 
  

2.2 
  



Highland 
  

3.9 
  

2 
  

0.7 
  

1 
  

0.2 
  



Lanarkshire 
  

10.8 
  

4.9 
  

2.1 
  

3.2 
  

0.6 
  



Lothian 
  

13.6 
  

5.5 
  

2.7 
  

5.2 
  

0.2 
  



Orkney 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Shetland 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Tayside 
  

9.8 
  

4.1 
  

- 
  

5.6 
  

0.1 
  



Western Isles 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



  Table 4

  Dermatologists Directly Employed by NHSScotland by NHS Board1

  Whole-Time Equivalent (WTE) at 30 September 1999

  





All Grades 
  

Consultants 
  

Non-Consultant Career Grades2


Training Grades3


Other4




Scotland 
  

89.7 
  

44.7 
  

6.8 
  

32.2 
  

6 
  



Argyll and Clyde 
  

8 
  

2 
  

1 
  

4 
  

1 
  



Ayrshire and Arran 
  

5 
  

3 
  

- 
  

1 
  

1 
  



Borders 
  

0.4 
  

0.4 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

1.1 
  

1 
  

- 
  

- 
  

0.1 
  



Fife 
  

2.8 
  

1.5 
  

0.4 
  

- 
  

0.9 
  



Forth Valley 
  

2.4 
  

2 
  

- 
  

- 
  

0.4 
  



Grampian 
  

4.7 
  

3.6 
  

- 
  

1 
  

0.1 
  



Greater Glasgow 
  

25 
  

11.3 
  

- 
  

12 
  

1.8 
  



Highland 
  

3.8 
  

2 
  

0.7 
  

1 
  

- 
  



Lanarkshire 
  

11.5 
  

4.8 
  

2.2 
  

4 
  

0.5 
  



Lothian 
  

13.7 
  

6.4 
  

2.5 
  

4.6 
  

0.2 
  



Orkney 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Shetland 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Tayside 
  

11.4 
  

6.7 
  

- 
  

4.6 
  

0.1 
  



Western Isles 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



  Table 5

  Dermatologists Directly Employed by NHSScotland by NHS Board1 Whole-Time Equivalent (WTE) at 30 September 2000

  





All Grades 
  

Consultants 
  

Non-Consultant Career Grades2


Training Grades3


Other4




Scotland 
  

95.2 
  

43.8 
  

6.8 
  

39.1 
  

5.5 
  



Argyll and Clyde 
  

6.4 
  

2 
  

1 
  

3 
  

0.4 
  



Ayrshire and Arran 
  

4.9 
  

3 
  

- 
  

1 
  

0.9 
  



Borders 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

1.2 
  

1 
  

- 
  

- 
  

0.2 
  



Fife 
  

3.8 
  

1.6 
  

0.4 
  

1 
  

0.8 
  



Forth Valley 
  

2.5 
  

2 
  

- 
  

- 
  

0.5 
  



Grampian 
  

9.4 
  

3.6 
  

- 
  

5.7 
  

0.1 
  



Greater Glasgow 
  

25.6 
  

10.6 
  

- 
  

13.6 
  

1.4 
  



Highland 
  

2.9 
  

2 
  

0.7 
  

- 
  

0.2 
  



Lanarkshire 
  

10.5 
  

4.8 
  

2.2 
  

3 
  

0.5 
  



Lothian 
  

13.9 
  

6.4 
  

2.5 
  

4.6 
  

0.4 
  



Orkney 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Shetland 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Tayside 
  

14 
  

6.7 
  

- 
  

7.2 
  

0.1 
  



Western Isles 
  




- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



  Notes:

  1. Includes honorary appointments.

  2. Comprises Associate specialist and Staff grades.

  3. Comprises Specialist Registrar, Senior Registrar, Registrar, Senior House Officer and House Officer grades.

  4. Comprises Hospital Practitioner and GMP (para 94 appointment) grades.

  Notes:

  (a) Data is from the Medical and Dental Census and show staff in post at 30 September in each of the years 1995-2000.

  (b) Whole-time equivalent is calculated by dividing the contracted hours/sessions by the conditioned (normal) hours for the group of staff.

  (c) These data are released under National Statistics.

NHS Waiting Times

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting times to be seen by a dermatologist have been in each NHS board in each year from 1997 to the present.

Malcolm Chisholm: The median waiting times for a first out-patient appointment with a Consultant in Dermatology, following referral by a General Medical Practitioner, by NHS board of residence, for the years ended 31 March 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001, and the nine months to 31 December 2001, are given in the following table.

  NHSScotland: Median Waiting Times for a First Out-patient Appointment with a Consultant in Dermatology, Following a General Medical Practitioner Referral, by NHS Board of Residence. Years Ended 31 March 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001 and 9 Months to 31 December 2001P.

  

 

Year Ended 
  

9 Months To 
  



NHS Board 
  

31 March 1998 
  

31 March 1999 
  

31 March 2000 
  

31 March 2001 
  

31 December 2001P




Argyll and Clyde 
  

56 days 
  

63 days 
  

56 days 
  

60 days 
  

65 days 
  



Ayrshire and Arran 
  

43 days 
  

43 days 
  

56 days 
  

77 days 
  

102 days 
  



Borders 
  

46 days 
  

57 days 
  

56 days 
  

64 days 
  

74 days 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

35 days 
  

42 days 
  

28 days 
  

24 days 
  

54 days 
  



Fife 
  

62 days 
  

66 days 
  

66 days 
  

57 days 
  

65 days 
  



Forth Valley 
  

70 days 
  

93 days 
  

112 days 
  

104 days 
  

104 days 
  



Grampian 
  

62 days 
  

81 days 
  

105 days 
  

117 days 
  

124 days 
  



Greater Glasgow 
  

60 days 
  

49 days 
  

62 days 
  

55 days 
  

60 days 
  



Highland 
  

60 days 
  

66 days 
  

71 days 
  

48 days 
  

31 days 
  



Lanarkshire 
  

67 days 
  

43 days 
  

52 days 
  

56 days 
  

78 days 
  



Lothian 
  

51 days 
  

49 days 
  

64 days 
  

70 days 
  

69 days 
  



Orkney 
  

56 days 
  

32 days 
  

51 days 
  

45 days 
  

39 days 
  



Shetland 
  

28 days 
  

34 days 
  

54 days 
  

46 days 
  

48 days 
  



Tayside 
  

76 days 
  

84 days 
  

48 days 
  

26 days 
  

36 days 
  



Western Isles 
  

67 days 
  

91 days 
  

92 days 
  

41 days 
  

23 days 
  



Scotland 
  

56 days 
  

52 days 
  

61 days 
  

58 days 
  

63 days 
  



  PProvisional.

  Source: ISD, Scotland. SMR00.

Nursing

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many nursing students will complete their studies in the year to October 2002 in each NHS board area.

Malcolm Chisholm: An estimated 2,095 nursing students in Scotland are expected to complete their studies in the year to October 2002.

  The information is not available in the form requested. Nursing education is delivered by 11 higher education institutions in Scotland. On completion of their studies, students may take up a post in any NHS board area.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any ban on Scottish Prison Service employees contacting (a) their constituency MSP or (b) any MSP in order to discuss the plans for the service which were announced on 21 March 2002.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  There is no ban on Scottish Prison Service (SPS) employees contacting their MSP in relation to the SPS Estates Review. They can also respond directly provided that they do so in confidence and the response is not made public.

Prison Service

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is appropriate for prisoners to be able to see from a prison wing what is happening in one or more other wings.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  This is a feature in many prisons, is not considered to be a problematic issue and can be beneficial.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to paragraph 95 of the Scottish Prison Service Estates Review, whether in estimating costs for a publicly built prison, the review assumed the adoption of a fixed price construction contract, detailing the reasons for its position on the matter.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  All construction costs were determined by professional advisers based on best estimates of industry costs, with appropriate risk analysis. Contract type is a matter for a later stage when it would be decided how best to manage all identified risks.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to paragraph 95 of the Scottish Prison Service Estates Review, whether in estimating costs for a publicly built prison it assumed the minimisation of late design changes during construction by introducing an independent design certifier, detailing the reasons for its position on the matter.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The estimated costs assumed that an appropriate change control system would be in place.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to paragraph 95 of the Scottish Prison Service Estates Review, what cost-saving measures it assumed the Scottish Prison Service could make in constructing a new publicly built prison.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  All construction costs were determined by professional advisers based on best estimates of industry costs to provide the specification set by SPS. No additional savings were assumed.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23810 by Mr Jim Wallace on 20 March 2002, what budget has been set for catering services to the Scottish Prison Service in 2002-03.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The budget for the provision of food to prisoners in 2002-03 is set at £3.3 million.

Prison Service

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21188 by Mr Jim Wallace on 14 January 2002, what outputs are required by the contracts for social work services at HM Young Offenders Institution (a) Glenochil and (b) Polmont.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The outputs required by the contract for social work services are as follows:

  


(a) Glenochil 
  

Outputs 
  



Reports 
  

160 
  



Cases 
  

560 
  



Pre-release Meetings 
  

75 
  



Induction/Duty Interviews 
  

2,150 
  



Contribution to Group Work Programmes 
  

2,580 hours 
  



Contribution to Support Services 
  

368 hours 
  



  


(b) Polmont 
  

Outputs 
  



Reports 
  

55 
  



Cases 
  

435 
  



Pre-release Meetings 
  

60 
  



Induction/Duty Interviews 
  

840 
  



Contribution to Group Work Programmes 
  

1,272 hours 
  



Contribution to Support Services 
  

494 hours

Prison Service

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what energy efficiency targets will be set for any new private prisons.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Any such targets would be set consistent with the Executive’s wider energy efficiency policies.

Public Services

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what public discussion will take place, and with whom, in respect of renewing existing public service obligations.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive consults local interests including local authorities, local enterprise companies and community organisations to inform decisions on the renewal of Public Service Obligations.

Public Transport

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it gave to the A701 upgrading policies when awarding public transport fund support for the study of a rail line on the same corridor.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive gave due consideration to all existing projects in progress before making a public transport fund award for a Multi-Modal Public Transport Study to Midlothian Council in October 2001.

Roads

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all Transport Challenge Fund money awarded to Midlothian Council to carry out a study of improvements to the A701 has been spent, giving the date when it was last notified of expenditure on this project.

Lewis Macdonald: Midlothian Council has not yet spent all the Challenge Fund money awarded for the A701 improvement project.

  The Scottish Executive received their latest update about this in April 2002.

Roads

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has evaluated the outcome of Transport Challenge Fund money awarded to Midlothian Council to carry out a study of improvements to the A701 and, if so, what the results were of this evaluation.

Lewis Macdonald: The responsibility for evaluating the outcome of the study into improvements to the A701, and for deciding what further action to take, rests with Midlothian Council.

Roads

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it received a final report or funding bid from Midlothian Council in relation to the money awarded under the Transport Challenge Fund for a study of improvements to the A701.

Lewis Macdonald: The A701 improvement project is not yet complete. It has therefore not been possible for Midlothian Council to submit a final report about this project to the Scottish Executive.

School Transport

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will amend the rules governing the safer routes to school fund so that buses in normal service can be diverted from their route in order to transport children to school.

Lewis Macdonald: The Executive has provided financial support to local authorities to assist them to develop Safer Routes to School and Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets projects. Guidance on How to run Safer Routes to School was published by the Scottish Executive in December 1999. There are no plans to amend it.

  Local authorities receive funding from the Executive through the Rural Public Passenger Transport Grant to subsidise non-commercial rural public passenger transport services.

  Under section 51 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 education authorities have a duty to make such arrangements as they consider necessary for the provision of free transport or for the provision of other transport facilities for the conveyance of pupils between their homes and their designated schools.

School Trips

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many school trips overseas are made by bus or coach and (b) via which ports such trips were made in each year since 1999.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive does not collect the detailed information requested.

School Trips

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will advise directors of education to consider using the ferry from the Port of Rosyth when embarking on school trips to Europe; whether it has already given any such advice, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Nicol Stephen: The routes and mode of travel for school trips abroad will depend on a range of factors, including the operational requirements of the tour operating companies or other organisations which individual schools and education authorities may deal with in organising such trips. It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Executive to offer advice to Directors of Education on the detailed matter of the means of travel in these circumstances.

Schools

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what response it has made to the lack of budgetary provision for the acquisition of sites for new schools referred to in the bid from Dumfries and Galloway Council to it for funding for school improvements and what effect this omission will have on its consideration of the council’s bid.

Nicol Stephen: We shall be responding to all the bids for revenue support for school PPP projects which we have received from local authorities, including Dumfries and Galloway Council, soon.

Scottish Executive Departments

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many car parking spaces are planned for the new Environment and Rural Affairs Department office in Perth.

Ross Finnie: A total of 83 car parking spaces are planned, as approved by the local planning authority.

Student Finance

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to postpone the repayment of student loans and payment of the graduate contribution and not to charge interest in the meantime to those students who go on to study for a post-graduate research degree.

Iain Gray: The Executive has no plans to change the procedures for repaying student loans or for the payment of the graduate endowment. All liable graduates can choose to meet their graduate endowment liability by taking out a student loan or adding to their existing loan. Student loans are repayable, at a fixed rate, only when the student’s annual earnings exceed the income threshold, currently set at £10,000. Those who remain in full-time education are, therefore, unlikely to have to make loan repayments. The interest charged on student loans is linked to the rate of inflation and is applied merely to maintain the value of the amount borrowed in real terms.

Sustainable Development

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what environmental protocol or compliance regime is attached to the expenditure of public money on a national basis.

Ross Finnie: Sustainable development is an integral part of the current spending review. Spending departments within the Executive and those partners and agencies we fund, will need to demonstrate what contribution their proposals will make towards the achievement of sustainable development objectives and in particular how they would:

  lead to reductions in resource use and assist in efforts to protect Scotland from the overuse of resources;

  reduce the amount of waste and increase recycling;

  reduce demands on energy from non-renewable sources, and

  reduce the need for travel.

Taxation

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25166 by Peter Peacock on 1 May 2002, what the (a) actual and (b) estimated revenues were, or will be, from (i) council tax and (ii) business rates for (1) Stirling and (2) Clackmannanshire in each year from 1996-97 to 2002-03.

Peter Peacock: Detailed in the following tables are the actual revenues from council tax and actual and estimated revenues from business rates for Stirling and Clackmannanshire Councils. No estimates are received from councils for council tax.

  Net Income from Council Tax Payers1, 2

  


Council (£ million) 
  

1996-97 
  

1997-98 
  

1998-99 
  

1999-2000 
  

2000-01 
  

2001-02 
  

2002-03 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

10.599 
  

11.615 
  

12.957 
  

13.828 
  

14.637 
  

unavailable 
  

unavailable 
  



Stirling 
  

20.658 
  

23.928 
  

24.697 
  

26.050 
  

29.024 
  

unavailable 
  

unavailable 
  



  Source: As reported by local authorities in form LFR 12, Community Charge and Council Tax Income.

  Notes:

  1. Accruals basis.

  2. Figures exclude water and sewerage charges, and include council tax benefit.

  Figures for years 2001-02 and 2002-03 are unavailable at this time.

  Income from Business Rates

  


Council (£ million) 
  

1996-97 
  

1997-98 
  

1998-99 
  

1999-2000 
  

2000-01 
  

2001-02 
  

2002-03 
  



Clackmannanshire
estimate1


10.513 
  

11.001 
  

11.219 
  

11.250 
  

12.808 
  

10.811 
  

11.657 
  



Clackmannanshire
actual 
  

10.410 
  

10.665 
  

10.495 
  

11.540 
  

8.612 
  

unavailable 
  

unavailable 
  



Stirling
estimate1


23.480 
  

23.750 
  

25.028 
  

27.330 
  

30.183 
  

31.944 
  

34.042 
  



Stirling
actual 
  

23.351 
  

23.436 
  

26.956 
  

26.968 
  

30.651 
  

unavailable 
  

unavailable 
  



  Source: Local Government Finance returns.

  Note:

  1. These are early estimates of business rates.

Tourism

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to enhance the status of tourism as referred to in its  Tourism Framework for Action 2002-05 , specifically with regard to the construction industry.

Mike Watson: VisitScotland is developing a communication strategy, "Tourism is everyone’s business". One of the purposes of this work will be to raise the awareness of the importance of tourism to Scotland among other industries whose work affects or contributes to the tourism sector.

  In addition, Historic Scotland have developed a comprehensive integrated strategy with the building industry to promote the conservation of the built heritage. Through their grants, they also encourage repair and conservation projects with a tourism benefit.

Waste Management

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what complaints it has received, directly or indirectly, regarding any smell and discomfort caused by Seafield sewage treatment works and what action it will direct any non-departmental public body to take on this matter.

Ross Finnie: To date, the Executive has received three complaints from MSPs on behalf of their constituents about odours from the Seafield Waste Water Treatment Plant. Additionally, last year, my officials received a summary report on the problems at the plant from the then East of Scotland Water Authority.

  I am aware that representatives of the local community presented a petition on this issue to the Public Petitions Committee on Thursday 6 June. I await an approach from the committee seeking my comments on its contents.

  I understand that Scottish Water is putting pressure on Stirling Water to resolve the odour problems as a matter of extreme urgency.

Water Safety

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether treatment technology similar to that selected for the proposed water treatment plant at Milngavie has been used elsewhere in the United Kingdom and, if so, what the track record of any such plants has been.

Ross Finnie: The treatment technology selected for the proposed Milngavie water treatment works is widely used across the industry. The effectiveness of the process, like all treatment processes, is dependent on the monitoring and control regimes put in place. Scottish Water plans to operate the new works in accordance with industry best practice.

Water Safety

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the selected treatment technology for the proposed water treatment plant at Milngavie has been assessed by any United Kingdom standards agency or received certification from any United States state or federal agency.

Ross Finnie: There are no certification schemes covering the efficiency of water treatment processes. The highly variable nature of raw water means that the treatment technology appropriate for a particular treatment works has to be selected by carrying out trials on the raw water being used for that supply. The efficiency of any processes is also dependent on the operating regime put in place.

Water Safety

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans Scottish Water has in place to rectify any failures of the proposed water treatment plant at Milngavie to meet specified removal efficiency criteria.

Ross Finnie: Scottish Water has carried out extensive trials on pilot plant to check the performance of the water treatment process proposed for Milngavie. However, should the full scale plant fail to meet all the necessary regulatory standards, then the Drinking Water Quality Regulator will require remedial measures to be put in place.

Water Safety

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what minimal level of cryptosporidium removal is required under relevant legislation and European directives for water treatment plants.

Ross Finnie: Neither the European Drinking Water Directive nor The Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations set performance criteria for cryptosporidium removal at water treatment works. Where there is an identified risk of cryptosporidium entering a water supply, The Cryptosporidum (Scottish Water) Directions 2002 require that a treatment process and operating protocols, appropriate for the identified risk, are put in place to minimise that risk.

Water Safety

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what maximum level of cryptosporidium is allowable in drinking water supplies under relevant Scottish guidelines.

Ross Finnie: There is no maximum level set for cryptosporidium in The Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations. The regulations require that water does not contain any micro-organism or parasite at a concentration which would constitute a potential danger to human health.

Water Safety

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what penalties may be levied against Scottish Water if specified cryptosporidium removal rates are not met at the proposed water treatment plant at Milngavie.

Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-26586 today. However, if Scottish Water supply water unfit for human consumption, they shall be guilty of an offence unless they can demonstrate that they had exercised all due diligence for securing that the water was fit for human consumption. Any decision on whether or not an offence had been committed and any penalties levied against Scottish Water would be a matter for the procurator fiscal.

Water Safety

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what penalties may be charged by Scottish Water against its contractors if cryptosporidium is found in the treated water after filtration by the proposed water treatment plant at Milngavie.

Ross Finnie: This is a contractural matter between Scottish Water and its contractors.

Water Safety

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which agency is responsible for ensuring that cryptosporidium is eliminated from drinking water supplies and does not reach customers’ taps.

Ross Finnie: The Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland is responsible for ensuring that public drinking water supplies are wholesome and meet the requirements of The Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations.

Water Safety

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what methodology has been selected by Scottish Water to monitor cryptosporidium in water supplies before and after treatment at the proposed water treatment plant at Milngavie; whether the chosen methodology meets relevant British and international standards, and whether the chosen methodology is used elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

Ross Finnie: The Cryptosporidium (Scottish Water) Directions 2002 and the associated guidance issued by Scottish ministers in April 2002, specifies the necessary requirements for sampling and analysis for cryptosporidium in public water supplies. The method specified is used throughout the UK.

Water Safety

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the selected monitoring methodology at the proposed water treatment plant at Milngavie meets the world’s best practice and reflects an accurate assessment of the prevalence of water-borne cryptosporidium.

Ross Finnie: The recovery rate for cryptosporidium oocysts using the monitoring methodology proposed for Milngavie is around 50%. However, the methodology proposed is the best currently available.

Water Safety

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what regime will be operated at the proposed water treatment plant at Milngavie with respect to maintaining the optimal level of filtration, appropriate monitoring of the filter media and regularity of backwashing.

Ross Finnie: The operating regime at the proposed Milngavie water treatment works will be in accordance with industry best practice.